These two glasses, decorated with finely carved scrolls of leaves, swags of flowers, cherubs and urns, are described in Chippendale's bill as '2 oval frames with treble branches and rich Carved Antique ornaments highly finished in Burnished Gold'. They were dismantled in the 1850's when Charles Barry was brought in to undertake major alterations to the house. The State Bedroom had fallen out of fashion and was consequently turned into a more practical sitting room. Such lavish pieces as these were glasses were considered unsuitable for a modern Victorian household and the decorative carved work around the main frame was dismantled and stored in boxes in the stable blocks. They were re-discovered in the 1970's and painstakingly returned to their original state.
Pair of Looking Glasses
c.1773
The Earl & Countess of Harewood, & the Trustees of the Harewood House Trust
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